On Thin Ice: Loving Him Was the Hardest Check
£3.59
On Thin Ice: A Novel of Forbidden Love
Carter Brennan is hockey’s next superstar: strong, handsome, and living the all-American dream. But his perfect life is a lie. Haunted by an attraction he can’t name, his world fractures when he locks eyes with his only true rival—Liam Thibault, the brilliant Canadian goalie.
What begins as competitive fury ignites into something else entirely: a secret, desperate connection forged through stolen glances, late-night messages, and a desire that defies every rule of their sport. As Carter falls deeper for Liam, he’s trapped between his love for his girlfriend, the expectations of his family, and a truth that could destroy his legendary future.
When their hidden relationship explodes into a public scandal, the fallout is catastrophic. Careers hang in the balance, hearts are broken, and families are torn apart. Carter must face the ultimate choice: deny his identity to save the life he knows, or embrace a terrifying love and risk losing everything.
On Thin Ice is a raw, powerful, and unforgettable story of forbidden love in the hyper-masculine world of professional hockey. A 39-chapter journey of tragedy, romance, passion, and sportsmanship, this novel delves into the brutal cost of living authentically and the breathtaking strength it takes to love who you are.
On Thin Ice: A Novel of Forbidden Love
Carter “The Wall” Brennan has it all. At eighteen, he’s America’s golden boy of hockey: a 6’4” prodigy, the #1 draft pick, beloved by fans, and adored by his picture-perfect girlfriend, Jenna. His future is a straight, glittering line to NHL stardom. But beneath the veneer of perfection, Carter is drowning. In the steamy silence of the locker room, his gaze is drawn not to camaraderie, but to the powerful, masculine forms of his opponents. A terrifying, magnetic pull he can neither understand nor control.
That pull becomes an obsession when it fixes on his greatest rival: Liam “The Wall” Thibault, the brilliant, quietly intense Canadian goalie. After a brutal on-ice clash, a charged encounter in a deserted gym, and a fateful glance across a crowded airport, Carter finds himself sliding into a secret world of late-night texts and stolen video calls. With Liam, the performance ends. The lies he tells Jenna and his family pile up as he discovers a shocking, exhilarating truth: he is falling for a man. And not just any man—the one person the hyper-masculine world of hockey has taught him to hate.
On Thin Ice is a gripping, heart-wrenching novel that cuts to the core of identity, love, and sacrifice. Told across 39 powerful chapters, this is more than a sports story; it’s an intimate portrait of two young men skating on the edge of ruin.
Carter’s journey is one of agonizing self-discovery. From the first illicit glance to the shameful, secret release in the dark, he battles a guilt that threatens to shatter him. He must navigate the delicate balance between the life everyone expects—the supportive girlfriend, the proud, traditional family—and the raw, undeniable connection that feels more real than anything he’s ever known.
Liam’s struggle is a mirror of quiet resilience. Guarded and perceptive, he becomes Carter’s confidant and his compass, but he carries his own burdens of expectation and fear. Their relationship is a fragile flame in a storm, offering warmth and light even as it risks consuming everything they’ve worked for.
When a single, intimate photo is leaked to the world, their secret becomes a scandal. The fallout is immediate and brutal: public ridicule, the devastation of a betrayed heart, a career in jeopardy, and the most painful blow of all—the potential loss of family. Carter is forced to make impossible choices between the person he was raised to be and the man he truly is.
A tale that is tragic, romantic, erotic, and steeped in the authentic world of elite sport, On Thin Ice explores the high cost of authenticity in a world that demands conformity. It’s a story about the strength it takes to be vulnerable, the courage to choose love over fear, and the long, hard skate toward a future where you no longer have to hide. For fans of emotional, character-driven stories and intense romantic drama, this novel promises a journey you will not forget.
3 reviews for On Thin Ice: Loving Him Was the Hardest Check
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Add to cartThe Bare Truth: An Ocean Drive Affair
Kevin lives free. A handsome 29-year-old nudist photographer in Miami, he believes in radical honesty—in his art, his pansexual love life, and the sun on his skin. His world is his eclectic tribe and their vibrant South Beach block.
Then he meets Mateo: a sophisticated real estate developer from a powerful family. Their instant, passionate connection offers Kevin deep understanding and offers Mateo a taste of a freedom he’s never known.
But their romance is built on a devastating secret. Mateo is the executive tasked with demolishing Kevin’s entire neighborhood to build a luxury high-rise.
When the truth explodes, Kevin is forced to lead a fight to save his home and his friends. Mateo is caught in an agonizing conflict between his duty to his family’s ruthless empire and the man who has awakened his soul.
As a brutal corporate smear campaign targets Kevin’s unconventional lifestyle, and threats escalate against his community, their love is tested in the fiery crucible of public scandal and private betrayal. Kevin must decide if his fearless openness is a strength or a fatal flaw. Mateo must choose between the gilded cage of his inheritance and the terrifying, liberating chance at a real life.
A gripping, sensual novel of love, integrity, and the high cost of living truthfully. Set against the glittering, cutthroat backdrop of Miami Beach, The Bare Truth is a powerful story about fighting for your home, your chosen family, and the courage to love without walls.
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Add to cartEvan Reed, St. Clare University’s 23-year-old president, has it all: looks, charm, and a brilliant future. He effortlessly charms everyone, especially women, whom he gently rejects with a vow of chastity until marriage. But his perfect facade hides a devastating secret: he is deeply in love with his best friend, Liam Walsh, the school’s star baseball captain.
Trapped by the expectations of his devout family and a conservative town, Evan believes he must choose between his heart and his entire world. Liam, who shares Evan’s secret but not his patience, yearns for a truth they can never speak aloud. Their forbidden connection plays out in stolen glances and secret meetings, a love so powerful it threatens to destroy everything they’ve worked for—Evan’s presidency, Liam’s athletic career, and their reputations.
From the pressures of a glittering gala to the threat of blackmail, The President’s Secret is a sweeping, emotional saga of sacrifice and resilience. This 55-chapter journey follows two men across five years as they navigate family rejection, public scrutiny, and the agonizing distance between the lives they have and the life they desperately want. It’s a story about the cost of living a lie and the fierce, painful fight to build an authentic life together. A heartfelt, angsty MM romance about finding the courage to choose love, no matter the consequence.
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The Manhattan Glimmer
£3.99Add to cartBook Name: The Manhattan Glimmer
Subtitle: A Bisexual Couple’s Journey Through Glamour, Intimacy, and the Secret Heart of New YorkA London bisexual couple’s glamorous trip to New York Fashion Week becomes a transformative journey of intimacy and self-discovery.
When Leo, a charismatic photographer, and Felix, his introspective boyfriend, accept a coveted invitation from the enigmatic editor Julian, they expect runway shows and celebrity parties. Instead, Julian guides them into the city’s secret, hedonistic heart—from exclusive underground clubs to sensual gatherings where desire is an art form and consent is the only law.
At The Nighthawk, a legendary invitation-only sanctuary, they navigate the delicate dance of attraction with strangers who quickly become confidants. They share their first kisses with others—a gentle woman, a confident sculptor—and discover that exploring the outer limits of sensuality can either shatter a relationship or forge it into something unbreakable.
As the week unfolds through 41 captivating chapters, Leo and Felix confront their own boundaries, fears, and deepest desires. Not every door leads to magic; a shocking encounter at a notorious club forces them to choose between empty permission and their profound connection.
This steamy, sophisticated, and emotionally charged gay romance is a testament to the idea that the greatest journey isn’t into a new city, but into the depths of the heart you share with another.
Read with pride. Your front-row seat awaits.
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Add to cartRomeo and Julian: A Gay Romance Novel of Sun, Sacrifice, and Second Chances on the Italian Riviera
Romeo escapes his stifling life in Milan for a fresh start in sun-drenched Portofino. There he meets Julian, a free-spirited lifeguard whose joy is as radiant as the sea. Their connection is instant and profound—a whirlwind of intimate moments on hidden nudist beaches, under starlit skies, and within the discreet sanctuary of a men’s sauna.
But their idyllic romance is threatened when Julian’s traditional fishing family forces him to choose between blood and love. Believing he is protecting Romeo, Julian makes a devastating choice, pushing him away with a noble lie that shatters them both.
“Romeo and Julian” is a heart-wrenching story of sacrifice, forgiveness, and the fight for a love that refuses to die. Can their bond survive the ultimate test of faith and family?
This emotional MM romance takes you on a journey from the glamorous parties of the Italian Riviera to the quiet, profound depths of a love reborn. It is a celebration of living authentically, building a chosen family, and finding a happily ever after more beautiful than any dream.
Perfect for fans of gay contemporary romance and lush, setting-rich love stories. If you believe in second chances and love that shines as brightly as the Mediterranean sun, dive into “Romeo and Julian” today. Read with pride.
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Add to cartHe came to photograph a vanishing way of life. He found a reason to live it.
Étienne, a celebrated but emotionally vacant Parisian photographer, flees to the coast of Brittany to escape his burnout. Jean-Paul, a widowed fisherman hardened by grief and the sea, wants no part of the intrusive city artist.
But Étienne doesn’t want a picture; he wants to understand. He earns his place through grueling labor on Jean-Paul’s boat, and amidst the salt spray and soaring gulls, a deep friendship forms, slowly warming into a powerful, life-changing love.
Together, they build a quiet life, until Étienne’s art threatens to pull them back into a world that wants to exploit their story. They must fight to protect their sacred bond, proving that their love, forged in hardship and tempered by time, is strong enough to weather any storm.
A sweeping, 47-chapter emotional epic, “Le Cœur et la Mer” is a profound tale of redemption, resilience, and a romance that builds a legacy, spanning decades to tell a story of the love that cares, endures, and forever changes two souls.
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The Silence of the Sun
£3.59Add to cartA love so profound, its silence speaks volumes.
When shy, introspective Mateo spends the summer at his father’s villa in Andalusia, he expects another season of lonely solitude. His world is irrevocably turned upside down by the arrival of Leo Valdez, a charismatic and brooding young pianist from Madrid.
Under the relentless Spanish sun, a tentative friendship ignites into a passionate, forbidden love affair—a whirlwind of stolen moments and whispered confessions that transforms them both. But summer must end, and their separation is a devastating blow that sends them on separate paths, Mateo to Barcelona and Leo to a stifling music conservatory.
Sustained only by heartfelt letters, they must navigate grief, family pressure, and the daunting pursuit of their dreams—Mateo as a writer and Leo as a composer. Their love is tested by distance, silence, and the terrifying prospect of outgrowing the memory of their perfect summer.
The Silence of the Sun is a sweeping, emotional gay romance about the love that defines you. It’s a story of first love, heartbreak, and the courage it takes to fight for a future together. For fans of poignant, character-driven love stories, this novel will capture your heart and linger long after the final page.
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readwithpride.comis the first portal dedicated to connecting LGBTQ+ authors with specialized publicists – but using it effectively requires insider knowledge.This 35‑chapter guide walks you through every step: creating a profile that attracts publicists, mining your manuscript for marketing gold, writing targeted pitches that get responses, and negotiating fair rates. You will learn to leverage beta readers, community forums, and live Pitch Parties to get noticed. Real case studies show how romance, memoir, and YA fantasy authors succeeded.
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Read with pride. Publish with purpose.
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Add to cartCole Hendricks, “The Wall” of American polo, has it all: fame, strength, a perfect brand. But his eyes keep straying to his rival, British aristocrat Ash Chamberlain. It’s more than competition; it’s a terrifying, undeniable attraction that defies everything he knows about himself.
Bound by family legacy and expectation, Ash fights a silent war between duty and the dangerous pull he feels toward the powerful American. A single, reckless moment of passion in a horse stall ignites a secret that could destroy them both.
From Palm Beach to Argentina, London to Dubai, they navigate a double life of stolen touches and public performances, their hidden love flourishing in the shadows of the world’s most glamorous sport. But the weight of lies, the threat of exposure, and the cold force of tradition push them to a shattering choice: sacrifice the gilded futures laid out for them, or sacrifice the only real love they’ve ever known.
The Open Field is a sweeping, emotional saga of forbidden love, personal courage, and the high-stakes world of elite polo. It’s a story about the cost of living a lie and the breathtaking freedom of choosing your truth, no matter how hard the ride.
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Add to cartA Family for Christmas: Sometimes the family you find is the gift you needed most.
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Add to cartA lonely student. A weary farmer. One Christmas that changes everything.
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admin (store manager) –
Name: Alex R.
Email: a.reader.reviews@gmail.com
Rating: ★★★★★
Title: “More Than a Sports Romance – A Masterpiece of Character”
I’ve read my share of M/M romances and sports novels, but On Thin Ice stands in a league of its own. This isn’t just a “forbidden love” trope; it’s a devastatingly authentic excavation of internalized fear. The author doesn’t just tell us Carter is confused—we live in his skin. We feel the stomach-dropping panic of an unwanted glance in the shower, the addictive thrill of a risky text, and the soul-crushing guilt when he looks into his girlfriend’s trusting eyes. The hockey backdrop isn’t just set dressing; it’s the pressure cooker that makes his journey so intense. The scenes on the ice, especially after the scandal breaks, are some of the most visceral and heartbreaking I’ve ever read. Liam is a phenomenal counterpart—strong, steady, and just as vulnerable. Their relationship builds with agonizing slowness and feels earned. The last third of the book had me in tears. This is a tragic, beautiful, and ultimately hopeful story about the cost of a authentic life. An absolute must-read.
admin (store manager) –
Name: Marcus T.
Email: marcus.thorne@outlook.com
Rating: ★★★★★
Title: “The Definition of a Page-Turner”
I bought this book yesterday and did not put it down until I finished. The phrase “on thin ice” is perfect, because from Chapter 1 you feel the terrifying, exhilarating precariousness of Carter’s life. The author perfectly captures the claustrophobic, brotherly-yet-competitive atmosphere of elite sports. The romantic and erotic tension between Carter and Liam is off-the-charts—their first meeting at the motel had my heart pounding. But what elevates this book is how real the consequences feel. The leak isn’t a simple plot device; it’s an apocalyptic event that realistically destroys relationships and self-worth. The family dynamics, especially Carter’s fraught relationship with his father, are written with incredible nuance. There are no easy villains, just flawed people struggling with a world that has suddenly changed. The ending on the frozen pond was perfect—not a fairy-tale finish, but a hard-won new beginning. This book is intense, emotional, and brilliantly written.
admin (store manager) –
Name: Jamie L.
Email: j.lee.writes@yahoo.com
Rating: ★★★★★
Title: “A Story That Stays With You”
As a former college athlete, the authenticity of this novel hit me like a check into the boards. The author nails the mindset, the rituals, the pressure, and the unspoken codes of the locker room. Carter’s internal battle is portrayed with such raw honesty—the shame, the self-loathing, the desperate attempts to “fix” himself. Watching him find solace and understanding in his rival, of all people, is beautifully tragic. Liam is the calm to Carter’s storm, and their dynamic is the heart of the book. The supporting characters, like Jenna and Carter’s parents, are fully realized, making the emotional fallout deeply personal and complex. This isn’t a light read; it’s an emotional marathon. It deals with homophobia, familial rejection, and public scrutiny without flinching. But it’s also a profound story about courage, resilience, and finding love where you least expect it. Days after finishing, I’m still thinking about Carter and Liam. Highly, highly recommended.